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Turner AD, Power LC, Yan Y, Binkley MM, Hood AM, Guilliams KP, Ford AL, King AA, Fields ME. Cognitive outcomes of children and adults with sickle cell anaemia: A contemporary cohort. Br J Haematol 2024. [PMID: 38981601 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.19642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley D Turner
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Landon C Power
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Yan Yan
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | | | - Anna M Hood
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Kristin P Guilliams
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Andria L Ford
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Allison A King
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Melanie E Fields
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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2
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Karkoska KA, Gollamudi J, Sawyer RP, Woo D, Hyacinth HI. Quantifying dilated perivascular spaces in children with sickle cell disease. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2024:e31150. [PMID: 38953143 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.31150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
Sickle cell disease (SCD)-related neurological effects are particularly devastating. Dilated perivascular spaces (dPVS) are a well-described component of cerebral small vessel disease in older adults without SCD. However, the burden and association of dPVS with neurological complications in children with SCD have not been described. In this study, we used the international consensus criteria to quantify dPVS in the centrum semiovale and basal ganglia in T2-weighted magnetic resonance images (MRI) of children with SCD who were randomized as part of the Silent Cerebral Infarct Transfusion (SIT) trial. We examined the relationship between global and/or regional dPVS burden and presence or area of silent cerebral infarctions, hematological measures, demographic variables, and full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) scores. The study included 156 SIT trial participants who had pre-randomization and study exit MRI. Their median age was 9.6 (5-15) years, 39% were female, and 94 (60%) participants had a high dPVS burden. Participants randomized to the blood transfusion arm and who had a high dPVS burden at baseline had a moderate decline in dPVS score over 36 months compared to no change in the observation group. On multivariable logistic regression, intelligence quotient was not associated with dPVS burden. Children with SCD included in the SIT trial have a high burden of dPVS compared to children without SCD. However, dPVS do not appear to have the same pathophysiology of silent cerebral infarcts. Further study is needed to determine both their etiology and clinical relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristine A Karkoska
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Jahnavi Gollamudi
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Russell P Sawyer
- Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Daniel Woo
- Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Hyacinth I Hyacinth
- Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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3
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Lai J, Zou P, Dalboni da Rocha JL, Heitzer AM, Patni T, Li Y, Scoggins MA, Sharma A, Wang WC, Helton KJ, Sitaram R. Hydroxyurea maintains working memory function in pediatric sickle cell disease. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296196. [PMID: 38935785 PMCID: PMC11210848 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Sickle cell disease (SCD) decreases the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells. Children with SCD have reduced/restricted cerebral blood flow, resulting in neurocognitive deficits. Hydroxyurea is the standard treatment for SCD; however, whether hydroxyurea influences such effects is unclear. A key area of SCD-associated neurocognitive impairment is working memory, which is implicated in other cognitive and academic skills. The neural correlates of working memory can be tested using n-back tasks. We analyzed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data of patients with SCD (20 hydroxyurea-treated patients and 11 controls, aged 7-18 years) while they performed n-back tasks. Blood-oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signals were assessed during working memory processing at 2 time points: before hydroxyurea treatment and ~1 year after treatment was initiated. Neurocognitive measures were also assessed at both time points. Our results suggested that working memory was stable in the treated group. We observed a treatment-by-time interaction in the right cuneus and angular gyrus for the 2- >0-back contrast. Searchlight-pattern classification of the 2 time points of the 2-back tasks identified greater changes in the pattern and magnitude of BOLD signals, especially in the posterior regions of the brain, in the control group than in the treated group. In the control group at 1-year follow-up, 2-back BOLD signals increased across time points in several clusters (e.g., right inferior temporal lobe, right angular gyrus). We hypothesize that these changes resulted from increased cognitive effort during working memory processing in the absence of hydroxyurea. In the treated group, 0- to 2-back BOLD signals in the right angular gyrus and left cuneus increased continuously with increasing working memory load, potentially related to a broader dynamic range in response to task difficulty and cognitive effort. These findings suggest that hydroxyurea treatment helps maintain working memory function in SCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesyin Lai
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Ping Zou
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Josue L. Dalboni da Rocha
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Andrew M. Heitzer
- Department of Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Tushar Patni
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Yimei Li
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Matthew A. Scoggins
- Department of Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Akshay Sharma
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Winfred C. Wang
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Kathleen J. Helton
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Ranganatha Sitaram
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
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4
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Heitzer AM, Rashkin SR, Trpchevska A, Longoria JN, Rampersaud E, Olufadi Y, Wang WC, Raches D, Potter B, Steinberg MH, King AA, Kang G, Takemoto CM, Hankins JS. Catechol-O-methyltransferase gene (COMT) is associated with neurocognitive functioning in patients with sickle cell disease. Curr Res Transl Med 2024; 72:103433. [PMID: 38244277 PMCID: PMC11106217 DOI: 10.1016/j.retram.2023.103433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Neurocognitive impairment is a common and debilitating complication of sickle cell disease (SCD) resulting from a combination of biological and environmental factors. The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene modulates levels of dopamine availability in the prefrontal cortex. COMT has repeatedly been implicated in the perception of pain stimuli and frequency of pain crises in patients with SCD and is known to be associated with neurocognitive functioning in the general population. The current study aimed to examine the associations of genetic variants in COMT and neurocognitive functioning in patients with SCD. PATIENTS AND METHODS The Sickle Cell Clinical Research and Intervention Program (SCCRIP) longitudinal cohort was used as a discovery cohort (n = 166). The genotypes for 5 SNPs (rs6269, rs4633, rs4818, rs4680, and rs165599) in COMT were extracted from whole genome sequencing data and analyzed using a dominant model. A polygenic score for COMT (PGSCOMT) integrating these 5 SNPs was analyzed as a continuous variable. The Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease (CSSCD, n = 156) and the Silent Cerebral Infarction Transfusion (SIT, n = 114) Trial were used as 2 independent replication cohorts. Due to previously reported sex differences, all analyses were conducted separately in males and females. The Benjamini and Hochberg approach was used to calculate false discovery rate adjusted p-value (q-value). RESULTS In SCCRIP, 1 out of 5 SNPs (rs165599) was associated with IQ at q<0.05 in males but not females, and 2 other SNPs (rs4633 and rs4680) were marginally associated with sustained attention at p<0.05 in males only but did not maintain at q<0.05. PGSCOMT was negatively associated with IQ and sustained attention at p<0.05 in males only. Using 3 cohorts' data, 4 out of 5 SNPs (rs6269, rs4633, rs4680, rs165599) were associated with IQ (minimum q-value = 0.0036) at q<0.05 among male participants but not female participants. The PGSCOMT was negatively associated with IQ performance among males but not females across all cohorts. CONCLUSION Select COMT SNPs are associated with neurocognitive abilities in males with SCD. By identifying genetic predictors of neurocognitive performance in SCD, it may be possible to risk-stratify patients from a young age to guide implementation of early interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Heitzer
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States.
| | - Sara R Rashkin
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Ana Trpchevska
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Jennifer N Longoria
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Evadnie Rampersaud
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Yunusa Olufadi
- Biostatistics Department, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Winfred C Wang
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Darcy Raches
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Brian Potter
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Martin H Steinberg
- Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avidesian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Allison A King
- Program in Occupational Therapy and Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Guolian Kang
- Biostatistics Department, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Clifford M Takemoto
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Jane S Hankins
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States; Global Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
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5
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Ellison V, Berlin KS, Longoria J, Potter B, Raches D, Hankins JS, Takemoto C, Heitzer AM. Empirically derived profiles of neurocognitive functioning in youth and young adults with sickle cell disease. J Pediatr Psychol 2024:jsae029. [PMID: 38623054 DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsae029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder associated with neurocognitive deficits. In contrast to variable-centered approaches, no known research has utilized person-centered strategies to identify multidimensional patterns of neurocognitive functioning of an individual with SCD. The purpose of the present study was to create empirically derived profiles and identify predictors of neurocognitive functioning subgroups among youth and young adults with SCD. METHODS Individuals with SCD (N = 393, mean age 14.05 years, age range 8-24, 50.4% female/49.6% male) completed neurocognitive assessments. Latent profile analysis derived subgroups/classes of neurocognitive functioning and determined relations with demographic and medical variables. RESULTS Three latent classes emerged: average functioning (n = 102, 27%), low average functioning (n = 225, 60%), and exceptionally low functioning (n = 46, 12%). Older age was associated with membership in the low average and exceptionally low functioning groups (relative to the average group). Being prescribed hydroxyurea was associated with membership in the average functioning group (relative to the low average group) and absence of hydroxyurea use was associated with membership in the exceptionally low group (relative to the low average group). Lower social vulnerability was associated with membership in the average functioning group compared to the low average and exceptionally low groups. CONCLUSIONS Clinicians can help reduce disparities in cognitive development for individuals with SCD by promoting early treatment with hydroxyurea and implementing methods to reduce social vulnerabilities that can interfere with access to evidence-based care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinkrya Ellison
- Department of Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
- The Department of Psychology, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, United States
- The Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Kristoffer S Berlin
- The Department of Psychology, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, United States
- The Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Jennifer Longoria
- Department of Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Brian Potter
- Department of Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Darcy Raches
- Department of Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Jane S Hankins
- Department of Hematology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Clifford Takemoto
- Department of Hematology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Andrew M Heitzer
- Department of Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
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6
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Hankins JS, Brambilla D, Potter MB, Kutlar A, Gibson R, King AA, Baumann AA, Melvin C, Gordeuk VR, Hsu LL, Nwosu C, Porter JS, Alberts NM, Badawy SM, Simon J, Glassberg JA, Lottenberg R, DiMartino L, Jacobs S, Fernandez ME, Bosworth HB, Klesges LM, Shah N. A multilevel mHealth intervention boosts adherence to hydroxyurea in individuals with sickle cell disease. Blood Adv 2023; 7:7190-7201. [PMID: 37738155 PMCID: PMC10698253 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2023010670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Hydroxyurea reduces sickle cell disease (SCD) complications, but medication adherence is low. We tested 2 mobile health (mHealth) interventions targeting determinants of low adherence among patients (InCharge Health) and low prescribing among providers (HU Toolbox) in a multi-center, non-randomized trial of individuals with SCD ages 15-45. We compared the percentage of days covered (PDC), labs, healthcare utilization, and self-reported pain over 24 weeks of intervention and 12 weeks post-study with a 24-week preintervention interval. We enrolled 293 patients (51% male; median age 27.5 years, 86.8% HbSS/HbSβ0-thalassemia). The mean change in PDC among 235 evaluable subjects increased (39.7% to 56.0%; P < 0.001) and sustained (39.7% to 51.4%, P < 0.001). Mean HbF increased (10.95% to 12.78%; P = 0.03). Self-reported pain frequency reduced (3.54 to 3.35 events/year; P = 0.041). InCharge Health was used ≥1 day by 199 of 235 participants (84.7% implementation; median usage: 17% study days; IQR: 4.8-45.8%). For individuals with ≥1 baseline admission for pain, admissions per 24 weeks declined from baseline through 24 weeks (1.97 to 1.48 events/patient, P = 0.0045) and weeks 25-36 (1.25 events/patient, P = 0.0015). PDC increased with app use (P < 0.001), with the greatest effect in those with private insurance (P = 0.0078), older subjects (P = 0.033), and those with lower pain interference (P = 0.0012). Of the 89 providers (49 hematologists, 36 advanced care providers, 4 unreported), only 11.2% used HU Toolbox ≥1/month on average. This use did not affect change in PDC. Tailoring mHealth solutions to address barriers to hydroxyurea adherence can potentially improve adherence and provide clinical benefits. A definitive randomized study is warranted. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT04080167.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane S Hankins
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
- Center for Sickle Cell Disease, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | | | - Michael B Potter
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA
| | - Abdullah Kutlar
- Center for Blood Disorders, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA
| | - Robert Gibson
- Center for Blood Disorders, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA
| | - Allison A King
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
| | - Ana A Baumann
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
| | - Cathy Melvin
- Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Victor R Gordeuk
- Sickle Cell Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Lewis L Hsu
- Sickle Cell Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Chinonyelum Nwosu
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Jerlym S Porter
- Department of Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Nicole M Alberts
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sherif M Badawy
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplant, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Jena Simon
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Jeffrey A Glassberg
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | | | | | - Sara Jacobs
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC
| | - Maria E Fernandez
- Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
| | - Hayden B Bosworth
- Department of Population Health Studies, Duke University, Durham, NC
- Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC
| | - Lisa M Klesges
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
| | - Nirmish Shah
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Duke University, Durham, NC
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7
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Mishkin AD, Prince EJ, Leimbach EJ, Mapara MY, Carroll CP. Psychiatric comorbidities in adults with sickle cell disease: A narrative review. Br J Haematol 2023; 203:747-759. [PMID: 37455514 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.18981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Although descriptions of quality of life and patient reports of mood in sickle cell disease (SCD) have become more common in the literature, less is known about psychiatric illness prevalence, presentation, and treatment, particularly for adults. We provide a narrative review of what is known about common and debilitating psychiatric conditions such as depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment, specifically for adults with SCD. We discuss the limitations of the current evidence, make provisional recommendations, and identify opportunities for research and improved care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrienne D Mishkin
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
- Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Elizabeth J Prince
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Elizabeth J Leimbach
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Markus Y Mapara
- Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - C Patrick Carroll
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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8
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Lai J, Zou P, Dalboni da Rocha JL, Heitzer AM, Patni T, Li Y, Scoggins MA, Sharma A, Wang WC, Helton KJ, Sitaram R. Hydroxyurea maintains working memory function in pediatric sickle cell disease. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.11.23.23298960. [PMID: 38045394 PMCID: PMC10690339 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.23.23298960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Pediatric patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) have decreased oxygen-carrying capacity in the blood and reduced or restricted cerebral blood flow resulting in neurocognitive deficits and cerebral infarcts. The standard treatment for children with SCD is hydroxyurea; however, the treatment-related neurocognitive effects are unclear. A key area of impairment in SCD is working memory, which is implicated in other cognitive and academic skills. N-back tasks are commonly used to investigate neural correlates of working memory. We analyzed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of patients with SCD while they performed n-back tasks by assessing the blood-oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signals during working memory processing. Twenty hydroxyurea-treated and 11 control pediatric patients with SCD (7-18 years old) performed 0-, 1-, and 2-back tasks at 2 time points, once before hydroxyurea treatment (baseline) and ~1 year after treatment (follow-up). Neurocognitive measures (e.g., verbal comprehension, processing speed, full-scale intelligence quotient, etc.) were assessed at both time points. Although no significant changes in behavior performance of n-back tasks and neurocognitive measures were observed in the treated group, we observed a treatment-by-time interaction in the right cuneus and angular gyrus for the 2- > 0-back contrast. Through searchlight-pattern classifications in the treated and control groups to identify changes in brain activation between time points during the 2-back task, we found more brain areas, especially the posterior region, with changes in the pattern and magnitude of BOLD signals in the control group compared to the treated group. In the control group, increases in 2-back BOLD signals were observed in the right crus I cerebellum, right inferior parietal lobe, right inferior temporal lobe, right angular gyrus, left cuneus and left middle frontal gyrus at 1-year follow-up. Moreover, BOLD signals elevated as the working memory load increased from 0- to 1-back but did not increase further from 1- to 2-back in the right inferior temporal lobe, right angular gyrus, and right superior frontal gyrus. These observations may result from increased cognitive effort during working memory processing with no hydroxyurea treatment. In contrast, we found fewer changes in the pattern and magnitude of BOLD signals across time points in the treated group. Furthermore, BOLD signals in the left crus I cerebellum, right angular gyrus, left cuneus and right superior frontal gyrus of the treated group increased continuously with increasing working memory load from 0- to 2-back, potentially related to a broader dynamic range in response to task difficulty and cognitive effort. Collectively, these findings suggest that hydroxyurea treatment helped maintain working memory function in SCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesyin Lai
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105
| | - Ping Zou
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105
| | | | - Andrew M. Heitzer
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105
| | - Tushar Patni
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105
| | - Yimei Li
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105
| | - Matthew A. Scoggins
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105
| | - Akshay Sharma
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105
| | - Winfred C. Wang
- Department of Hematology St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105
| | - Kathleen J. Helton
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105
| | - Ranganatha Sitaram
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105
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9
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Karkoska KA, Gollamudi J, Hyacinth HI. Molecular and environmental contributors to neurological complications in sickle cell disease. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2023; 248:1319-1332. [PMID: 37688519 PMCID: PMC10625341 DOI: 10.1177/15353702231187646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited hemoglobinopathy in which affected hemoglobin polymerizes under hypoxic conditions resulting in red cell distortion and chronic hemolytic anemia. SCD affects millions of people worldwide, primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian subcontinent. Due to vaso-occlusion of sickled red cells within the microvasculature, SCD affects virtually every organ system and causes significant morbidity and early mortality. The neurological complications of SCD are particularly devastating and diverse, ranging from overt stroke to covert cerebral injury, including silent cerebral infarctions and blood vessel tortuosity. However, even individuals without evidence of neuroanatomical changes in brain imaging have evidence of cognitive deficits compared to matched healthy controls likely due to chronic cerebral hypoxemia and neuroinflammation. In this review, we first examined the biological contributors to SCD-related neurological complications and then discussed the equally important socioenvironmental contributors. We then discuss the evidence for neuroprotection from the two primary disease-modifying therapies, chronic monthly blood transfusions and hydroxyurea, and end with several experimental therapies designed to specifically target these complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristine A Karkoska
- Division of Hematology & Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45219-0525, USA
| | - Jahnavi Gollamudi
- Division of Hematology & Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45219-0525, USA
| | - Hyacinth I Hyacinth
- Department of Neurology & Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0525, USA
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10
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Fraley CE, Neiman JS, Feddersen CR, James C, Jones TG, Mikkelsen M, Nuss R, Schlenz AM, Winters AC, Green AL, Compas BE. Identifying patterns of neurocognitive dysfunction through direct comparison of children with leukemia, central nervous system tumors, and sickle cell disease. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2023; 70:e30299. [PMID: 37036272 PMCID: PMC10546486 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.30299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To quantify and compare the magnitude and type of neurocognitive dysfunction in at-risk children with central nervous system (CNS) tumors, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and sickle cell disease (SCD) using a common instrument and metric to directly compare these groups with each other. METHODS Fifty-three participants between the ages of 7 and 12 years (n = 27 ALL, n = 11 CNS tumor, n = 15 SCD) were enrolled and assessed using the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery (NIHTCB). Participants with ALL or CNS tumor were 0-18 months posttherapy, while participants with SCD possessed the SS or Sβ0 genotype, took hydroxyurea, and had no known history of stroke. RESULTS Independent sample t-tests showed that participants with ALL and CNS tumor experienced greatest deficits in processing speed (ALL d = -0.96; CNS tumor d = -1.2) and inhibitory control and attention (ALL d = -0.53; CNS tumor d = -0.97) when compared with NIHTCB normative data. Participants with SCD experienced deficits in cognitive flexibility only (d = -0.53). Episodic memory was relatively spared in all groups (d = -0.03 to -0.32). There were no significant differences in function when groups were compared directly with each other by analysis of variance. CONCLUSIONS Use of a common metric to quantify the magnitude and type of neurocognitive dysfunction across at-risk groups of participants by disease shows that participants perform below age-expected norms in multiple domains and experience dysfunction differently than one another. This approach highlights patterns of dysfunction that can inform disease- and domain-specific interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire E Fraley
- Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Jamie S Neiman
- Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Charlotte R Feddersen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Claire James
- Department of Biology, Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota, USA
| | - Taylor G Jones
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Margit Mikkelsen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Rachelle Nuss
- Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Alyssa M Schlenz
- Developmental Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Amanda C Winters
- Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Adam L Green
- Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Bruce E Compas
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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11
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Bhatt N, Calhoun C, Longoria J, Nwosu C, Howell KE, Varughese T, Kang G, Jacola L, Hankins JS, King A. Health literacy correlates with abbreviated full-scale IQ in adolescent and young adults with sickle cell disease. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2023; 70:e30281. [PMID: 36861391 PMCID: PMC10425156 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.30281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic condition with progressive neurocognitive deficits. Health literacy (HL) is essential during adolescence and young adulthood, as the transition to adult care requires healthcare decisions. HL is known to be low in SCD; however, relation between general cognitive ability and HL has not been investigated. METHODS This cross-sectional study included adolescent and yound adults (AYAs) with SCD from two institutions. Logistic regression measured the association between HL, measured by the Newest Vital Sign tool, and general cognitive ability, measured with abbreviated full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) on the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence. RESULTS Our cohort contained 93 participants at two sites: 47 (51%) at Memphis, TN and 46 (49%) at St. Louis, MO, ranging from ages 15-45 years (mean = 21 years) and with a majority (70%) possessing a high school education or greater. Only 40/93 participants (43%) had adequate HL. Lower abbreviated FSIQ (p < .0001) and younger age at assessment (p = .0003) were associated with inadequate HL. For every standard score point increase in abbreviated FSIQ, the odds of having adequate HL compared to limited or possibly limited HL increase by 1.142 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.019-1.322) and 1.116 (95% CI: 1.045-1.209), respectively, after adjusting for age, institution, income, and educational attainment. CONCLUSIONS Understanding and addressing HL is imperative in improving self-management and health outcomes. Among AYA with SCD, low HL was prevalent and influenced by abbreviated FSIQ. Routine screening for neurocognitive deficits and HL should be performed to guide development of interventions to adapt to the HL of AYA with SCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nidhi Bhatt
- Departments of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Cecelia Calhoun
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Hematology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Jennifer Longoria
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Chinonyelum Nwosu
- Departments of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Kristen E. Howell
- Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Taniya Varughese
- Program in Occupational Therapy and Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
| | - Guolian Kang
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Lisa Jacola
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Jane S. Hankins
- Departments of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Allison King
- Program in Occupational Therapy and Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
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12
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Heitzer AM, Okhomina VI, Trpchevska A, MacArthur E, Longoria J, Potter B, Raches D, Johnson A, Porter JS, Kang G, Hankins JS. Social determinants of neurocognitive and academic performance in sickle cell disease. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2023; 70:e30259. [PMID: 36815529 PMCID: PMC10339212 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.30259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sickle cell disease (SCD) is associated with poor neurocognitive outcomes due to biomedical and psychosocial factors. The aims of this study were to investigate associations between household and neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) with cognitive and academic outcomes in SCD and to determine if these relationships were modified by sickle genotype, fetal hemoglobin, or age. PROCEDURE We prospectively recruited patients to complete a battery of neurocognitive and academic measures. Household SES was measured using the Barratt Simplified Measure of Social Status, a composite index of parent education and occupation. The Social Vulnerability Index was used to classify individuals based on social vulnerabilities at the neighborhood level. RESULTS Overall, 299 patients between the ages of 4 and 18 (mean = 11.4, standard deviation = 4.3) years diagnosed with SCD (57% SS/SB0 -thalassemia) completed testing. Stepwise multivariate models demonstrated that patients with low social vulnerability (i.e., high SES) at the neighborhood level displayed intelligence and math scores that were 4.70 and 7.64 points higher than those living in areas with moderate social vulnerability, respectively (p < .05). Reading performance did not differ based on neighborhood SES; however, the effect of neighborhood SES was dependent on age, such that older participants living in neighborhoods with moderate or high levels of social vulnerability displayed poorer reading scores than those with low social vulnerability (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS This study identified patients with SCD at higher risk of poor academic performance based on SES. Interventions addressing academic difficulties should be offered to all children with SCD, but should be emergently offered to this subpopulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ana Trpchevska
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Department of Psychology
| | - Erin MacArthur
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Department of Psychology
| | | | - Brian Potter
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Department of Psychology
| | - Darcy Raches
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Department of Psychology
| | - Ayanna Johnson
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Department of Psychology
| | | | - Guolian Kang
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Department of Biostatistics
| | - Jane S. Hankins
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Department of Hematology
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13
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Hamdule S, Kölbel M, Stotesbury H, Murdoch R, Clayden JD, Sahota S, Hood AM, Clark CA, Kirkham FJ. Effects of regional brain volumes on cognition in sickle cell anemia: A developmental perspective. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1101223. [PMID: 36860579 PMCID: PMC9968851 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1101223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and objectives Cognitive difficulties in people with sickle cell anemia (SCA) are related to lower processing speed index (PSI) and working memory index (WMI). However, risk factors are poorly understood so preventative strategies have not been explored. Brain volumes, specifically white matter volumes (WMV) which increases through early adulthood, have been associated with better cognition in healthy typically developing individuals. In patients with SCA, the reduced WMV and total subcortical volumes noted could explain cognitive deficits. We therefore examined developmental trajectories for regional brain volumes and cognitive endpoints in patients with SCA. Methods Data from two cohorts, the Sleep and Asthma Cohort and Prevention of Morbidity in SCA, were available. MRI data included T1-weighted axial images, pre-processed before regional volumes were extracted using Free-surfer. PSI and WMI from the Weschler scales of intelligence were used to test neurocognitive performance. Hemoglobin, oxygen saturation, hydroxyurea treatment and socioeconomic status from education deciles were available. Results One hundred and twenty nine patients (66 male) and 50 controls (21 male) aged 8-64 years were included. Brain volumes did not significantly differ between patients and controls. Compared with controls, PSI and WMI were significantly lower in patients with SCA, predicted by increasing age and male sex, with lower hemoglobin in the model for PSI but no effect of hydroxyurea treatment. In male patients with SCA only, WMV, age and socioeconomic status predicted PSI, while total subcortical volumes predicted WMI. Age positively and significantly predicted WMV in the whole group (patients + controls). There was a trend for age to negatively predict PSI in the whole group. For total subcortical volume and WMI, age predicted decrease only in the patient group. Developmental trajectory analysis revealed that PSI only was significantly delayed in patients at 8 years of age; the rate of development for the cognitive and brain volume data did not differ significantly from controls. Discussion Increasing age and male sex negatively impact cognition in SCA, with processing speed, also predicted by hemoglobin, delayed by mid childhood. Associations with brain volumes were seen in males with SCA. Brain endpoints, calibrated against large control datasets, should be considered for randomized treatment trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shifa Hamdule
- Developmental Neurosciences Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Melanie Kölbel
- Developmental Neurosciences Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom,Sleep Education and Research Laboratory, UCL Institute of Education, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hanne Stotesbury
- Developmental Neurosciences Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Russell Murdoch
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan D. Clayden
- Developmental Neurosciences Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sati Sahota
- Developmental Neurosciences Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Marie Hood
- Developmental Neurosciences Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom,Division of Psychology and Mental Health, Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher A. Clark
- Developmental Neurosciences Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Fenella Jane Kirkham
- Developmental Neurosciences Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom,Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom,*Correspondence: Fenella Jane Kirkham ✉
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14
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Heitzer AM, Schreiber JE, Yuan X, Wang F, Pan H, Graff JC, Murphy L, Rupff R, Russell K, Wang W, Estepp JH, Hankins JS, Porter JS, Jacola LM. Working memory and school readiness in preschool children with sickle cell disease compared to demographically matched controls. Br J Haematol 2023; 200:358-366. [PMID: 36264030 PMCID: PMC9852012 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.18507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Children diagnosed with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at risk of the development of neurobehavioural problems early in life. Specific impairments in executive function skills, including working memory, have been documented in school-aged children with SCD. These executive skills are known to strongly contribute to early academic skills and preparedness for entering kindergarten. This study examined working memory and school readiness in preschool children with SCD compared to a healthy control group matched for race, sex and parent education. A total of 84 patients diagnosed with SCD (61.9% haemoglobin [Hb]SS/HbSβ0 -thalassaemia) and 168 controls completed testing. The mean (SD) ages of patients and controls at testing were 4.53 (0.38) and 4.44 (0.65) years respectively. The SCD group performed worse than controls on measures of executive function, working memory and school readiness (p < 0.01; Cohen's D range: 0.32-0.39). Measures of working memory were associated with school readiness after accounting for early adaptive development. Multiple linear regression models among patients diagnosed with SCD revealed that college education of the primary caregiver was positively associated with school readiness (p < 0.001) after controlling for sex, genotype, age and early adaptive development. These results highlight the need to implement school readiness interventions in young children diagnosed with SCD emphasising executive function skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M. Heitzer
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Jane E. Schreiber
- Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Xiaomeng Yuan
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Haitao Pan
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - J. Carolyn Graff
- College of Nursing, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN
| | - Laura Murphy
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN
| | - Rebecca Rupff
- Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dothan, AL, USA
| | - Kathryn Russell
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Winfred Wang
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Jeremie H. Estepp
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Jane S. Hankins
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Jerlym S. Porter
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Lisa M. Jacola
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
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15
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Heitzer AM, Longoria J, Porter JS, MacArthur E, Potter B, Ding J, Gossett J, Kang G, Hankins JS. Internalizing Symptoms in Adolescents With Sickle Cell Disease. J Pediatr Psychol 2023; 48:91-103. [PMID: 35980301 PMCID: PMC10120839 DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsac068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic blood disorder that may affect patients' mood and behavior. However, measuring the prevalence of internalizing symptoms (anxiety and depression) in patients with SCD has been elusive. We assessed internalizing symptoms in adolescents with SCD to evaluate prevalence and to test whether neurocognitive performance and frequency of pain-related episodes were associated with internalizing concerns. METHODS One hundred eighty-five patients (57% HbSS/HbSß0-thalassemia, 43% HbSC/HbSß+-thalassemia), ages 12-18 years, received a neuropsychological evaluation as a part of a larger cohort study. Internalizing symptoms were measured using the Behavior Assessment System for Children, Second or Third Edition. Scores on the depression and anxiety scales were compared to normative values using Wilcoxon signed rank test. Spearman correlations examined associations between neurocognitive performances and internalizing symptoms. Robust multivariable regression models measured associations between internalizing symptoms and age, sex, sickle genotype, total hemoglobin, fetal hemoglobin, socioeconomic status, and frequency of pain episodes. RESULTS Parent- and self-reported ratings of internalizing symptoms were not elevated compared to normative expectations. Overall, 1.8% and 6.3% of the sample displayed clinically elevated symptoms of anxiety and depression based on self-report, respectively. There were no associations between internalizing symptoms and neurocognitive performance (all p > .05). In multivariable analyses, the frequency of pain episodes was positively associated with self-reported anxiety (p = .006) and parent-reported depressive symptoms (p = .017). CONCLUSIONS Adolescents with SCD do not report elevated internalizing symptoms compared to normative expectations. Further research is needed to examine the trajectory of internalizing symptoms and the bidirectional relationship between pain and psychosocial functioning in SCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Heitzer
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA
| | - Jennifer Longoria
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA
| | - Jerlym S Porter
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA
| | - Erin MacArthur
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA
| | - Brian Potter
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA
| | - Juan Ding
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA
| | - Jeffrey Gossett
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA
| | - Guolian Kang
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA
| | - Jane S Hankins
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA
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16
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Hulbert ML, Manwani D, Meier ER, Alvarez OA, Brown RC, Callaghan MU, Campbell AD, Coates TD, Frei-Jones MJ, Hankins JS, Heeney MM, Hsu LL, Lebensburger JD, Quinn CT, Shah N, Smith-Whitley K, Thornburg C, Kanter J. Consensus definition of essential, optimal, and suggested components of a pediatric sickle cell disease center. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2023; 70:e29961. [PMID: 36094289 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.29961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Sickle cell disease (SCD) requires coordinated, specialized medical care for optimal outcomes. There are no United States (US) guidelines that define a pediatric comprehensive SCD program. We report a modified Delphi consensus-seeking process to determine essential, optimal, and suggested elements of a comprehensive pediatric SCD center. Nineteen pediatric SCD specialists participated from the US. Consensus was predefined as 2/3 agreement on each element's categorization. Twenty-six elements were considered essential (required for guideline-based SCD care), 10 were optimal (recommended but not required), and five were suggested. This work lays the foundation for a formal recognition process of pediatric comprehensive SCD centers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica L Hulbert
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Deepa Manwani
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital at Montefiore/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Emily Riehm Meier
- Indiana Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Ofelia A Alvarez
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - R Clark Brown
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta/Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Michael U Callaghan
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Andrew D Campbell
- Division of Pediatric Hematology, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Thomas D Coates
- Cancer and Blood Disease Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles/University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Melissa J Frei-Jones
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Texas School of Medicine-San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Jane S Hankins
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Matthew M Heeney
- Dana Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lewis L Hsu
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Lebensburger
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Charles T Quinn
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Nirmish Shah
- Divisions of Pediatric Hematology Oncology and Hematology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kim Smith-Whitley
- Department of Hematology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Global Blood Therapeutics, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Courtney Thornburg
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Rady Children's Hospital/Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Julie Kanter
- Division of Hematology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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17
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Stenger E, Xiang Y, Wetzel M, Gillespie S, Chellapandian D, Shah R, Arnold SD, Bhatia M, Chaudhury S, Eckrich MJ, Kanter J, Kasow KA, Krajewski J, Nickel RS, Ngwube AI, Olson TS, Rangarajan HG, Wobma H, Guilcher GMT, Horan JT, Krishnamurti L, Shenoy S, Abraham A. Long-Term Organ Function After HCT for SCD: A Report From the Sickle Cell Transplant Advocacy and Research Alliance. Transplant Cell Ther 2023; 29:47.e1-47.e10. [PMID: 36273784 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtct.2022.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is an established cure for sickle cell disease (SCD) supported by long-term survival, but long-term organ function data are lacking. We sought to describe organ function and assess predictors for dysfunction in a retrospective cohort (n = 247) through the Sickle cell Transplant Advocacy and Research alliance. Patients with <1-year follow-up or graft rejection/second HCT were excluded. Organ function data were collected from last follow-up. Primary measures were organ function, comparing pre- and post-HCT. Bivariable and multivariable analyses were performed for predictors of dysfunction. Median age at HCT was 9.4 years; the majority had HbSS (88.2%) and severe clinical phenotype (65.4%). Most received matched related (76.9%) bone marrow (83.3%) with myeloablative conditioning (MAC; 57.1%). Acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) developed in 24.0% and 24.8%. Thirteen patients (5.3%) died ≥1 year after HCT, primarily from GVHD or infection. More post-HCT patients had low ejection or shortening fractions than pre-HCT (0.6% → 6.0%, P = .007 and 0% → 4.6%, P = .003). The proportion with lung disease remained stable. Eight patients (3.2%) had overt stroke; most had normal (28.3%) or stable (50.3%) brain magnetic resonance imaging. On multivariable analysis, cardiac dysfunction was associated with MAC (odds ratio [OR] = 2.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-6.77; P = .033) and severe acute GVHD (OR = 2.41; 95% CI, 1.04-5.62; P = .041). Neurologic events were associated with central nervous system indication (OR = 2.88; 95% CI, 2.00-4.12; P < .001). Overall organ dysfunction was associated with age ≥16 years (OR = 2.26; 95% CI, 1.35-3.78; P = .002) and clinically severe disease (OR = 1.64; 95% CI, 1.02-2.63; P = .043). In conclusion, our results support consideration of HCT at younger age and use of less intense conditioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Stenger
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta/Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
| | - Yijin Xiang
- Biostatistics Core, Department of Pediatrics, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Martha Wetzel
- Biostatistics Core, Department of Pediatrics, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Scott Gillespie
- Biostatistics Core, Department of Pediatrics, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | - Rikin Shah
- Orlando Health - Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, Orlando, Florida
| | - Staci D Arnold
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta/Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Monica Bhatia
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | | | | | - Julie Kanter
- University of Alabama Birmingham; Birmingham, Alabama
| | | | | | - Robert S Nickel
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia
| | | | - Tim S Olson
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Holly Wobma
- Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Gregory M T Guilcher
- Section of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and BMT, University of Calgary, Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - John T Horan
- Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Shalini Shenoy
- Washington University Medical Center, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Allistair Abraham
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia
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18
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Howell KE, Heitzer AM, Longoria JN, Potter B, Wang WC, Anderson S, Kang G, Hankins JS, Porter JS. Assessment of transition readiness to predict health care utilization during transition to adult care in sickle cell disease. Expert Rev Hematol 2022; 15:1063-1072. [PMID: 36356169 PMCID: PMC9809157 DOI: 10.1080/17474086.2022.2144216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transition-age patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at risk for poor outcomes associated with incomplete transition readiness and neurocognitive deficits. Study objectives were to: 1) test if a SCD-specific measure of self-management skills was associated with transition outcomes and 2) evaluate if caregiver-reported executive functioning was associated with self-management skills and transition outcomes among youth with SCD. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Youth/caregivers were selected from a longitudinal cohort study. Caregivers completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF); caregivers and youth completed the Self-Management Skills Checklist (SMSC) at a median age of 16.8 ± 0.6 years. Non-parametric tests compared SMSC and transition outcomes. Regression assessed the incremental validity of SMSC in predicting transition outcomes. RESULTS In total, 95 participants (54% male, 55% severe genotype) completed the SMSC assessment. Most participants (87%) transferred to adult care within six months and 87% were retained for at least 12 months. BRIEF and caregiver-reported SMSC assessments were weakly, negatively correlated (ρ = -0.25, p = 0.0392) but were not significant in predicting transition outcomes (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The SMSC and executive function did not predict adult care engagement. Development of readiness assessments that predict care engagement and reflect self-efficacy is important for monitoring transition-aged patients with SCD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Brian Potter
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
| | - Winfred C. Wang
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
| | - Sheila Anderson
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
| | - Guolian Kang
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
| | - Jane S. Hankins
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
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19
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Longoria JN, Wang W, Kang G, Gossett J, Krull K, King AA, Raches D, Schreiber J, Heitzer AM, Hankins JS. Neurocognitive functioning in children with sickle cell anemia and history of abnormal transcranial doppler ultrasonography. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2022; 69:e29943. [PMID: 36031725 PMCID: PMC9605768 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.29943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcranial doppler (TCD) ultrasonography can be used to identify stroke risk in children with sickle cell anemia. Previous studies have reported mixed findings on neurocognitive outcomes in children with elevated TCD. This study examined associations between TCD velocity and neurocognitive outcomes in children and adolescents without prior history of stroke. PROCEDURE Participants were selected from the Sickle Cell Clinical Research Intervention Program cohort. The highest recorded mean maximum TCD velocity was selected for analysis, along with participant's most recent data from serial neurocognitive surveillance. RESULTS A total of 200 children with sickle cell anemia completed neurocognitive testing (109 males, 91 females; mean age 12.7 years [SD = 3.56]). Most participants were prescribed hydroxyurea (72%) at the time of neurocognitive testing and nearly 16% had a history of chronic transfusions prior to neurocognitive evaluation. Mean age at time of highest TCD value was 6.6 years (SD = 2.5) and 13.5% of screenings were abnormal (≥200 cm/s). Mean interval between TCD and most recent neurocognitive evaluation was 6.1 years (±3.5). There were no significant differences in the interval between TCD and neurocognitive testing across normal, conditional, and abnormal groups. Maximum TCD velocity was not significantly associated with neurocognitive outcomes in multivariate models. CONCLUSIONS History of elevated TCD in the absence of overt stroke should not be considered a risk factor for poor neurocognitive outcomes in children and adolescents with sickle cell anemia on modern disease-modifying therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer N Longoria
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Winfred Wang
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Guolian Kang
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jeffrey Gossett
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Kevin Krull
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Allison A King
- Program in Occupational Therapy and Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Darcy Raches
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jane Schreiber
- Department of Psychology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Andrew M Heitzer
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jane S Hankins
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
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20
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Karkoska K, Pfeiffer A, Beebe DW, Quinn CT, Niss O, McGann PT. Early hydroxyurea use is neuroprotective in children with sickle cell anemia. Am J Hematol 2022; 97:E368-E370. [PMID: 35836401 DOI: 10.1002/ajh.26664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) who began hydroyxurea before age five years scored no differently on a measure of cognitive funciton than age, sex, and race-matched unaffected peers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristine Karkoska
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Amanda Pfeiffer
- Division of Hematology, Cancer & Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Dean W Beebe
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Charles T Quinn
- Division of Hematology, Cancer & Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Omar Niss
- Division of Hematology, Cancer & Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Patrick T McGann
- Lifespan Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children's Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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21
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The Drug Delivery of Hydrea Anticancer by a Nanocone-Oxide: Computational Assessments. COMPUT THEOR CHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.comptc.2022.113843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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22
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Stotesbury H, Kawadler JM, Clayden JD, Saunders DE, Hood AM, Koelbel M, Sahota S, Rees DC, Wilkey O, Layton M, Pelidis M, Inusa BPD, Howard J, Chakravorty S, Clark CA, Kirkham FJ. Quantification of Silent Cerebral Infarction on High-Resolution FLAIR and Cognition in Sickle Cell Anemia. Front Neurol 2022; 13:867329. [PMID: 35847220 PMCID: PMC9277177 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.867329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Research in sickle cell anemia (SCA) has used, with limited race-matched control data, binary categorization of patients according to the presence or absence of silent cerebral infarction (SCI). SCI have primarily been identified using low-resolution MRI, with radiological definitions varying in lesion length and the requirement for abnormality on both fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and T1-weighted images. We aimed to assess the effect of published SCI definitions on global, regional, and lobar lesion metrics and their value in predicting cognition. One hundred and six patients with SCA and 48 controls aged 8-30 years underwent 3T MRI with a high-resolution FLAIR sequence and Wechsler cognitive assessment. Prevalence, number, and volume of lesions were calculated using a semi-automated pipeline for SCI defined as: (1) Liberal: any length (L-SCI); (2) Traditional: >3 mm in greatest dimension (T-SCI); (3) Restrictive; >3 mm in greatest dimension with a corresponding T1-weighted hypo-intensity (R-SCI). Globally, as hypothesized, there were large effects of SCI definition on lesion metrics in patients and controls, with prevalence varying from 24-42% in patients, and 4-23% in controls. However, contrary to hypotheses, there was no effect of any global metric on cognition. Regionally, there was a consistent distribution of SCI in frontal and parietal deep and juxta-cortical regions across definitions and metrics in patients, but no consistent distribution in controls. Effects of regional SCI metrics on cognitive performance were of small magnitude; some were paradoxical. These findings expose the challenges associated with the widespread use of SCI presence as a biomarker of white-matter injury and cognitive dysfunction in cross-sectional high-resolution MRI studies in patients with SCA. The findings indicate that with high-resolution MRI: (1) radiological definitions have a large effect on resulting lesion groups, numbers, and volumes; (2) there is a non-negligible prevalence of lesions in young healthy controls; and (3) at the group-level, there is no cross-sectional association between global lesion metrics and general cognitive impairment irrespective of lesion definition and metric. With high-resolution multi-modal MRI, the dichotomy of presence or absence of SCI does not appear to be a sensitive biomarker for the detection of functionally significant pathology; the search for appropriate endpoints for clinical treatment trials should continue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanne Stotesbury
- Developmental Neurosciences, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jamie M Kawadler
- Developmental Neurosciences, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan D Clayden
- Developmental Neurosciences, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dawn E Saunders
- Developmental Neurosciences, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna M Hood
- Developmental Neurosciences, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom.,Division of Psychology and Mental Health, Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Melanie Koelbel
- Developmental Neurosciences, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sati Sahota
- Developmental Neurosciences, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Olu Wilkey
- North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Layton
- Haematology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Pelidis
- Department of Haematology and Evelina Children's Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Baba P D Inusa
- Department of Haematology and Evelina Children's Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jo Howard
- Department of Haematology and Evelina Children's Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Chris A Clark
- Developmental Neurosciences, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Fenella J Kirkham
- Developmental Neurosciences, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom.,Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
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23
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Trpchevska A, Longoria J, Okhomina V, Raches D, Potter B, Kang G, Heitzer AM, Hankins JS. Adaptive Functioning in Children and Adolescents With Sickle Cell Disease. J Pediatr Psychol 2022; 47:939-951. [PMID: 35380685 DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsac024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Risk for neurocognitive deficits in sickle cell disease (SCD) is well established, yet minimal research has evaluated the risk for deficits in adaptive functioning. We assessed adaptive functioning in pediatric patients with SCD to test the hypothesis that disease, treatment, and demographic factors were associated with adaptive outcomes. METHODS Two hundred fifty-six patients (57% HbSS/HbSß0-thalassemia and 43% HbSC/HbSß+-thalassemia), ages 8-18, received routine neuropsychological assessments as part of a larger prospective lifetime cohort study. Adaptive functioning was measured using the Behavior Assessment System for Children, Second or Third Edition. Adaptive scores were compared with normative values using t-test or Wilcoxon signed rank test and linear regression models were used to measure associations between adaptive functioning and age, hydroxyurea (HU) use, sickle genotype, and socioeconomic status. Furthermore, we examined the influence of intellectual and executive functioning on adaptive behavior using hierarchical linear regression analyses. RESULTS Parent ratings of adaptive functioning skills did not differ from normative expectations (all false discovery rate [FDR] adjusted p-value [pFDR] > 0.05). Social vulnerability was negatively associated with adaptive scores on most adaptive scales in both genotypes (pFDR < 0.05). HU treatment was not significantly associated with any adaptive scale. Overall IQ was positively associated with Functional Communication and Leadership only for those with HbSS/HbSß0-thalassemia. Higher parent ratings of executive difficulties were correlated with lower adaptive scores (estimate = -0.64, standard error = 0.051, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS Poorer parent-rated adaptive skills were associated with increased social vulnerability, lower Full-Scale IQ, and parent-rated executive difficulties. Most adaptive scores were in the normal range; however, parent ratings may not fully capture the impact of disease complications and neurocognitive deficits on daily functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Trpchevska
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jennifer Longoria
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Victoria Okhomina
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Darcy Raches
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Brian Potter
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Guolian Kang
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Andrew M Heitzer
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jane S Hankins
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
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24
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Heitzer AM, Longoria J, Rampersaud E, Rashkin SR, Estepp JH, Okhomina VI, Wang WC, Raches D, Potter B, Steinberg MH, King AA, Kang G, Hankins JS. Fetal hemoglobin modulates neurocognitive performance in sickle cell anemia ✰,✰✰. Curr Res Transl Med 2022; 70:103335. [PMID: 35303690 PMCID: PMC9086114 DOI: 10.1016/j.retram.2022.103335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) is a modifier of the clinical and hematologic phenotype of sickle cell anemia (SCA). Three quantitative trait loci (QTL) modulate HbF expression. The neurocognitive effects of variants in these QTL have yet to be explored. We evaluated the relation between 11 SNPs in the three HbF QTL: BCL11A, MYB, the HBB gene cluster, and full-scale intelligence (IQ) in SCA. PATIENTS AND METHODS The prospective longitudinal cohort study, Sickle Cell Clinical Research and Intervention Program, was used as a discovery cohort (n = 166). The genotypes for 11 SNPs were extracted through whole genome sequencing and were analyzed using an additive model. A polygenic score for HbF (PGSHbF) integrating the numbers of low HbF alleles from 11 SNPs was analyzed as a continuous variable. The Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease (n = 156) and the Silent Cerebral Infarction Transfusion (n = 114) Trial were used as two independent replication cohorts. Benjamini and Hochberg approach was used to calculate false discovery rate adjusted p-value (pFDR). RESULTS HbF was positively associated with IQ (minimum raw p = 0·0018) at pFDR<0·05. HbF mediated the relationship between two BCL11A SNPs, rs1427407 and rs7606173, HBS1L-MYB: rs9494142, and PGSHbF with IQ (minimum raw p = 0·0035) at pFDR<0·05. CONCLUSION As the major modulator of the severity of SCA, HbF also influences neurocognition, which is done through mediation of its QTL. These findings have implications for early identification of neurocognitive risk and targeted intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Heitzer
- Departments of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN.
| | - Jennifer Longoria
- Departments of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Evadnie Rampersaud
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Sara R Rashkin
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN; Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | | | | | - Winfred C Wang
- Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Darcy Raches
- Departments of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Brian Potter
- Departments of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Martin H Steinberg
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Allison A King
- Program in Occupational Therapy and Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
| | - Guolian Kang
- Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN; Departments of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Jane S Hankins
- Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
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25
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Heitzer AM, Cohen DL, Okhomina VI, Trpchevska A, Potter B, Longoria J, Porter JS, Estepp JH, King A, Henley M, Kang G, Hankins JS. Neurocognitive functioning in preschool children with sickle cell disease. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2022; 69:e29531. [PMID: 34971013 PMCID: PMC9207743 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.29531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) experience neurodevelopmental delays; however, there is limited research with preschool-age children. This study examined neurocognitive risk and protective factors in preschoolers with SCD. PROCEDURE Sixty-two patients with SCD (60% HbSS/HbSβ0 -thalassemia; 40% HbSC/HbSβ+ -thalassemia) between the ages of 3 and 6 years (mean = 4.77 years) received a neuropsychological evaluation as routine systematic surveillance. Patients were not selected for disease severity, prior central nervous system findings, or existing cognitive concerns. Thirty-four patients (82% HbSS/HbSβ0 -thalassemia) were prescribed hydroxyurea (HU) at the time of their neuropsychological evaluation. On average, these patients had been prescribed HU at 2.15 (standard deviation = 1.45) years of age. The average dose was 28.8 mg/kg/day. Besides genotype, there were no group differences in medical or demographic factors based on HU treatment status. RESULTS Patients with HbSS/HbSβ0 -thalassemia scored below normative expectations on measures of intelligence, verbal comprehension, and school readiness (false discovery rate-adjusted p-value [pFDR ] < .05). Age, sickle genotype, and HU treatment exposure were not associated with measured neurocognitive outcomes (pFDR > .05). Greater social vulnerability at the community level was associated with poorer performance on measures of intellectual functioning, verbal comprehension, visuomotor control, and school readiness, as well as parent report of executive dysfunction (pFDR < .05). Greater household socioeconomic status was positively associated with academic readiness. CONCLUSIONS Preschoolers with severe SCD (HbSS/HbSβ0 -thalassemia) perform below age expectations on measures of intelligence and academic readiness. Sociodemographic factors were stronger drivers of neurocognitive performance than disease severity or disease-modifying treatment. Neurodevelopmental interventions targeting the home and broader community environment are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M. Heitzer
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Diana L. Cohen
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | | | - Ana Trpchevska
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Brian Potter
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Jennifer Longoria
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Jerlym S. Porter
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Jeremie H. Estepp
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Allison King
- Program in Occupational Therapy and Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
| | - Misham Henley
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Guolian Kang
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Jane S. Hankins
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
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26
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Idro R, Boehme AK, Kawooya M, Lubowa SK, Munube D, Bangirana P, Opoka R, Mupere E, Lignelli A, Kasirye P, Green NS, Minja FJ. Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Angiography in Children with Sickle Cell Anaemia in Uganda in a Cross-Sectional Sample. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2022; 31:106343. [PMID: 35158150 PMCID: PMC9004405 DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2022.106343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) are highly susceptible to cerebrovascular injury. We performed brain magnetic resonance imaging and angiography (MRI-MRA) in Ugandan children with SCA to identify structural cerebrovascular abnormalities and examine their relationship to standardized clinical assessments. METHODS A sub-sample (n=81) was selected from a cross-sectional study of children attending SCA clinic, including 52 (64.2%) with and 29 (35.8%) without clinically detected abnormalities. Clinical evaluation included assessment for prior stroke, cognitive testing and cerebral arterial transcranial doppler (TCD) flow velocity. MRI-MRA scans were interpreted by at least two neuroradiologists. RESULTS Mean age was 6.5±2.7 years, with 39 (48.1%) female. Mean haemoglobin was 7.3±0.9 g/dl. Overall, 13 (16.0%) were malnourished. Infarcts and/or stenoses were detected in 55 (67.9%) participants, with stenoses primarily in the anterior circulation. Infarcts were seen in those with normal 17/29 (58.6%) or abnormal 34/52 (65.4%) clinical testing (p=0.181). Neither abnormal MRI nor MRA was associated with age, sex, haemoglobin, or malnutrition. Abnormal MRA was highly associated with infarcts (p<0.0001). Participants with abnormal imaging had two-fold higher proportion of stroke on exam and/or impaired cognition. Stroke on exam was strongly associated with an imaging abnormality after adjusting for age, sex, malnutrition, and haemoglobin (OR 11.8, 95%CI 1.87-74.2). CONCLUSION Over half of these SCA children had cerebrovascular infarcts and/or arterial stenoses. Cerebrovascular disease was frequently undetectable by clinical assessments. While rarely available in under-resourced settings, MRI-MRA brain imaging is an important tool for defining SCA cerebrovascular disease and for assessing impact of clinical intervention trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Michael Kawooya
- Radiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Ernest Cook Ultrasound Research and Education Institute (ECUREI) Mengo Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Samson K Lubowa
- Radiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | | | | | | | - Angela Lignelli
- Radiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Frank J Minja
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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27
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Longoria JN, Heitzer AM, Hankins JS, Trpchevska A, Porter JS. Neurocognitive risk in sickle cell disease: Utilizing neuropsychology services to manage cognitive symptoms and functional limitations. Br J Haematol 2022; 197:260-270. [PMID: 35118643 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.18041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder that is associated with developmental delays and neurocognitive deficits. This review details key findings related to neurocognitive outcomes for children and adults with emphasis on the impact of neurological correlates and disease severity. Associations between neurocognition, demographic factors and social determinants of health are also reviewed. Emerging literature has reported on the neurocognitive impact of SCD in children and adolescents in Africa and Europe, including children from immigrant communities. Neurocognitive deficits are linked to poor functional outcomes, including transition from paediatric to adult care, medication adherence and unemployment. Integrating neuropsychology into multidisciplinary care for individuals with SCD can assist with identification and management of neurocognitive concerns, intervention development, individualized care plan development and continued multidisciplinary research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer N Longoria
- Department of Psychology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Andrew M Heitzer
- Department of Psychology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jane S Hankins
- Department of Hematology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Ana Trpchevska
- Department of Psychology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jerlym S Porter
- Department of Psychology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
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28
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Elenga N, Kayemba-Kay's S, Nacher M, Archer N. A call to start hydroxyurea by 6 months of age and before the advent of sickle cell disease complications. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2022; 69:e29423. [PMID: 34818451 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.29423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Narcisse Elenga
- Sickle Cell Disease Center, Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne, French Guiana, Cayenne, France
| | | | - Mathieu Nacher
- INSERM U1424, Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne, French Guiana, Cayenne, France
| | - Natasha Archer
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Heitzer AM, Hamilton L, Stafford C, Gossett J, Ouellette L, Trpchevska A, King AA, Kang G, Hankins JS. Academic Performance of Children With Sickle Cell Disease in the United States: A Meta-Analysis. Front Neurol 2021; 12:786065. [PMID: 34966350 PMCID: PMC8711768 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.786065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Students with sickle cell disease are at risk for poor academic performance due to the combined and/or interactive effects of environmental, psychosocial, and disease-specific factors. Poor academic performance has significant social and health consequences. Objective: To study academic achievement and attainment in children with sickle cell disease in the United States. Design: Medline, Embase, SCOPUS, CINAHL, ERIC, and PsycINFO were searched for peer-reviewed articles. Studies of children (ages 5-18) diagnosed with sickle cell disease of any genotype reporting academic achievement (standardized tests of reading, math, and spelling) or attainment (grade retention or special education) outcomes were included. Outcomes were analyzed using a random effects model. Achievement scores were compared to within study controls or normative expectations. Prevalence of grade retention and special education services were compared to national (United States) estimates for Black students. Age at assessment and overall IQ were evaluated separately for association with reading and mathematics scores. Subgroup analyses of reading and math scores were analyzed by cerebral infarct status (no cerebrovascular accident, silent infarct, stroke). Results: There were 44 eligible studies. Students with sickle cell disease scored 0.70, 0.87, and 0.80 (p < 0.001) SD below normative expectations on measures of reading, mathematics, and spelling, respectively. Compared to unaffected sibling and/or healthy controls (k = 8, n = 508), reading and math scores were 0.40 (p = 0.017) and 0.36 (p = 0.033) SD below expectations. Grade retention was approximately 10 times higher in students with sickle cell disease than Black students nationally. Intellectual functioning explained 97.3 and 85.8% of the variance in reading and mathematics performance, respectively (p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses revealed significant differences in reading (p = 0.034) and mathematics (p < 0.001) based on infarct status, with lower performance associated with presence of a silent infarct or stroke. Conclusion: Students with sickle cell disease demonstrate notable academic difficulties and are at high risk for grade retainment. Development of academic interventions and increased access to school support services are needed for this vulnerable population. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42020179062.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M. Heitzer
- Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Latacha Hamilton
- School Program, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Claire Stafford
- Psychology, Nova Southeastern College of Psychology, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
| | - Jeffrey Gossett
- Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Lara Ouellette
- Health Sciences Resource Center, Texas Medical Center Library, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Ana Trpchevska
- Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Allison A. King
- Program in Occupational Therapy and Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Guolian Kang
- Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Jane S. Hankins
- Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
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Karkoska K. Neuroprotection: further evidence for the early and universal use of hydroxyurea in children with sickle cell disease. Br J Haematol 2021; 195:158-159. [PMID: 34340262 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.17702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kristine Karkoska
- Division of Hematology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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